Advances in CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) imaging sensor (CIS) module technology are shrinking pixel size, allowing more pixels to fit into a smaller footprint than ever before. CIS technology is used in many products, from smartphones for camera and face recognition to tablets and gaming consoles, as well as applications in automotive, security, and many more. The technology has also made its way into medical device industry, especially in smaller flexible video endoscopes such as laryngoscopes, broncho-scopes, arthroscopes, cystoscopes, ure-terorenoscopes, and hysteroscopes. The next frontier is the cardiovascular world, where CIS technology is poised to enable the delivery of direct and real-time color images.

Electronic devices used in the medical industry have thermal management needs similar to those in other fields. Their electronics must stay cool enough to run continuously and correctly within their operating temperature range. Sound thermal management allows excess heat to be efficiently moved, spread, and dissipated. The result is improved system reliability and service life while, in many cases, it also helps designers reduce device package size, weight, energy consumption, and noise.

Board cleaning is perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. But savvy medical electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have a keen sense of the importance it plays to ensure their products are free of miniscule flaws, defects, debris, and dust. In special cases, critical examinations must be performed to assure the correct cleaning solvents and processes are implemented to avoid damaging contaminants.

Aspecially-designed elastic bodysuit covered with electrodes, which was designed at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in collaboration with health care and business partners, could be used to help those suffering with brain damage or neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

We’ve all learned in Wire & Cable 101 that poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) reigns supreme for its low cost, high temperature ranges, and multipurpose capabilities. PVC can be easily manipulated using various additives which contain halogens and phthalates to enhance certain properties like flame resistance, temperature performance, or flexibility. However, when choosing wire and cable components for medical devices, is it time for manufacturers to pick up a new textbook that takes into account the various negative consequences of PVC?

Every day, medical device manufacturers are getting better and better at managing risk. They know they have to. Changes have been introduced into international regulatory schemes that impact device design all the way down to the component level. Perhaps the most fundamental and wide-ranging of these has been the emergence and adoption of formal risk management methodologies as an integral part of the regulatory process.

The value of highly accurate, automated, and measurable testing for medical devices cannot be overestimated. As devices become more complex, and patient care becomes increasingly personalized, it’s never been more essential to ensure that each medical device performs reliably and exactly to specifications. Realistically, the first, tenth, and hundredth device off the production line must perform identically, regardless of the test station operator or other test environment variables.

Today’s medical device and equipment designs are highly influenced by continuous technological advances that affect their size, power consumption, and communication capabilities. But patient safety and comfort are also critical considerations, forcing designers to balance the demands of new technology with the demands of new forms of patient care. From addressing industry-wide concerns over bioburden to adhering to strict noise limitations and biocompatibility needs, the list of requirements is becoming increasingly long. In order to provide the best possible solutions, medical device designers need a working knowledge of the thermal management technologies available to them. Armed with a thorough understanding of both passive and active thermal management systems, including their components, benefits, and applications, designers can more effectively address all the needs of the medical industry.

Researchers at the National Physical Laboratory, Middlesex, UK, Electronics Interconnection group has developed a new method to produce conductive textiles, which could make integrating electronics into all types of clothing simple and practical by enabling circuits to be printed directly onto garments.

Worldwide an estimated 185 million people use a wheelchair daily. A company based in Auckland, New Zealand, has developed an innovative robotic technology that helps people with mobility impairment get back on their feet— the Rex Bionics robotic exoskeleton. Its integrated maxon motors help to ensure smooth limb movement.

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MDB - INSIDE STORY

Christopher Scott

To find out more about the expertise that Eurofins brings to this area, and the company's plans for expansion into the United States, Medical Device Briefs recently spoke with Christopher Scott, vice president of Eurofins Medical Device Testing.